FontanaDam

Iva Lee Beasley Turpin

Iva Lee Beasley Turpin, 86 of the Bee Cove community of Fontana Dam, N.C., went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021, at Mountain View Manor Nursing Center in Bryson City, N.C. She was a native of Graham County and the daughter of the late Joseph and Florence Gunter Beasley.

Fontana still exploring new election schedule

Fontana Dam – A local municipality is continuing to look at matched four-year terms for its council.  At its Aug. 18 meeting, Town of Fontana Dam Clerk Zelerie Rogers said she had authorized the town attorney to look into the next steps for the process.

Fontana accepts board member’s resignation

Fontana Dam – In light of recent legal troubles, a town council member has tendered his resignation. Jason Duke’s exit from the board was agreed upon at the town’s July 21 meeting, which came after Duke was arrested on June 11 following an alleged multi-hour incident through the town’s resort.
Sitting Robbinsville Mayor Steve Hooper (left) files for re-election with Graham County Board of Elections Director Teresa Garland on July 6. Hooper was the first candidate to file in Graham County for the 2021 general election. Photo by Tasha Holder/Graham County Board of Elections

Sitting Robbinsville Mayor Steve Hooper (left) files for re-election with Graham County Board of Elections Director Teresa Garland on July 6. Hooper was the first candidate to file in Graham County for the 2021 general election. Photo by Tasha Holder/Graham County Board of Elections

Slow turnout in candidate filing

Filing for the 2021 municipal elections ends at noon Friday. And as of 2 p.m. Tuesday, only six of the 14 seats up for grabs have received interest.

Creating a Ripple Effect

Fontana Dam – The Fontana Village Marina has been honored among its peers in the Southeast for its commitment to the environment. The marina has won the 2021 Ripple Effect award for its annual cleanup of the lake, held annually on the first weekend in November.

Lucy Morgan Wright

Lucy Morgan Wright, 79, of Fontana Dam, N.C., passed peacefully in her sleep, at home on her beloved mountain Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021.  Lucy was the only child of the late Billy and Marguerite Boyd Morgan, of Murray, Ky.
In this March 29 photo, Graham County Deputy Jim Hyde (left) and Graham County Land’s Quinn Carver help man one of the five entry points into the county, which were closed to non-residents in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

In this March 29 photo, Graham County Deputy Jim Hyde (left) and Graham County Land’s Quinn Carver help man one of the five entry points into the county, which were closed to non-residents in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

A look back at 2020

The dawn of the new decade was seemingly dominated by a worldwide pandemic. And while the coronavirus has certainly made its presence felt in the area, Graham County still had a bevy of impactful events occur within its borders.

Jeffrey White, Sr.

Jeffrey Dale White, Sr., 50 of Fontana Village, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020 at Swain Community Hospital in Bryson City, N.C. He was the son of Nora Bradley Prince and the late Roger Dale White.